The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) contains the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer and supplies them under pressure to the three space shuttle main engines (SSME) in the orbiter during lift-off and ascent. The ET is jettisoned 18 seconds after the SSMEs are shut down, and re-enters the Earth's atmosphere. It breaks up before impact in the Indian Ocean (or Pacific Ocean in the case of direct-insertion launch trajectories, which are currently utilized) away from known shipping lanes. It is not reusable, unlike the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB).

Overview

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The ET is the largest element of the space shuttle, and when loaded, it is also the heaviest. It consists of three major components:

• the forward liquid oxygen tank
• an unpressurized intertank that contains most of the electrical components
• the aft liquid hydrogen tank; this is the largest part, but it is relatively light.

The ET is the "backbone" of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support for attachment with the solid rocket boosters and orbiter. The tank is connected to each SRB at one forward attachment point and one aft point, and it is connected to the orbiter at one forward attachment point and two aft points. In the aft attachment area, there are also umbilicals that carry fluids, gases, electrical signals and electrical power between the tank and the orbiter. Electrical signals and controls between the orbiter and the two solid rocket boosters also are routed through those umbilicals.

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